(StatePoint) December through March is typically peak influenza (flu) season, though this season is off to an earlier start, with high activity currently across the country. While common, flu is a potentially serious and highly contagious respiratory illness.

(StatePoint) The New Year represents a fresh start and is the perfect time to invest in your health. However, you may be unsure what resolutions will have the biggest impact. Doctors say that the easy, tangible actions you take are some of the most important.

(StatePoint) While it can be tempting to think of the pandemic as something that occurred in the past, the reality is that COVID-19 continues to be a significant burden in the United States. As of November 2022, there are more than 39,000 new cases, more than 3,000 hospitalizations and about 350 deaths attributable to COVID-19 each day.

(StatePoint) The holidays are right around the corner, and experts are already seeing a rise in respiratory illnesses like influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In addition, COVID-19 continues to be a serious health threat in the United States.

(StatePoint) The financial disparities between male and female entrepreneurs are far-reaching. Women-led businesses receive lower valuations, less capital and fewer conventional small business loans than those led by men. Women entrepreneurs also pay themselves less than men and often take the brunt of balancing their family’s needs while growing their business. In spite of these challenges, women-led businesses of all types are thriving across the United States, thanks in part to initiatives offering tactical support and networking opportunities.

(StatePoint) There are 2.5 million children in the United States growing up in “grandfamilies,” meaning they’re being raised by relatives or close friends without their parents in the home, and they face higher rates of hunger and food insecurity, according to a new report.

(Statepoint) Scams and fraud are more deceiving these days, reaching you in more ways than ever before. The FTC reported 2.8 million fraud reports from consumers in 2021 alone, with reported fraud losses increasing 70% from 2020 and more than $5.8 million.

(StatePoint) Medical professionals, patients and their families are increasingly seeing the value of home care, and the industry is expected to grow. In fact, home health and personal care aide job openings are projected to grow 33% from 2020 to 2030, with experts predicting an estimated 8.2 million job openings in home-based care by 2028. Industry experts say that workers from all backgrounds, not just nursing, will be needed now and in the future.

(StatePoint) Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an extremely contagious bacterial infection that can lead to severe, sometimes life-threatening health problems, such as exacerbation of chronic medical conditions -- including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

(StatePoint) Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, is so common that nearly 100% of children have been infected by age 2. Most people, including infants, develop only mild cold-like symptoms. However for some, RSV can be severe and even life threatening. Many people are surprised to learn that RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in infants.

(StatePoint) Even as they ride out inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty, women owners and executives of small and mid-size majority-women-owned businesses have an optimistic outlook about the near-term future of their businesses, according to a recent survey.

(StatePoint) Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in U.S. adults aged 65 or older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The economic impact of falls is immense, with fatal falls estimated to cost $754 million and nonfatal falls $50 billion annually. As the aging population enters long-term care facilities, fall prevention will become an increasingly important public health priority. The good news is a novel approach has recently come to light.

(StatePoint) As America’s drug overdose and death epidemic continues to impact communities of every size in every corner of the country, new challenges have emerged.

(StatePoint) In the last two years, the global plastic pollution crisis has gotten worse, with more plastic being produced and an even smaller percentage of it being recycled, according to a new report.

(StatePoint) It can be scary when a loved one is diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD affects more than 15 million Americans and is responsible for one death every 4 minutes nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, experts say that with a solid understanding of the disease, you’ll be equipped to help your loved one control symptoms and breathe better.

(StatePoint) At a time when the ongoing fight against climate change has never been more critical, and new federal efforts are being made to address systemic environmental justice issues, automotive industry insiders say that a recent engineering breakthrough could usher in an era of cleaner, more sustainable trucking.

(StatePoint) Starting in early 2020, every child in the United States became eligible for school meals at no cost, regardless of family income level -- no forms, no questions asked. That policy, along with other interventions, including increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, Children Program benefits, kept millions of children and families from going hungry during the pandemic. But support for school meals ended this September, putting healthy school meals increasingly out of reach for children who rely on them for nearly half their daily calories and a consistent source of good nutrition.

(StatePoint) If it feels like the holiday season is getting longer and more reliant on technology every year, you’re not imagining it.

(StatePoint) Increasingly, parents of young children are placing a larger focus on civic engagement and giving back. Not sure where to get started or how to strengthen your involvement?

(StatePoint) Long COVID can affect anyone who’s had COVID-19, even those who’ve had mild illness or no symptoms initially. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults who have had COVID-19 experience new or lingering symptoms that last three or more months after first contracting the virus. Physical therapists can play an essential role in managing symptoms of long COVID.

(Statepoint) When working from home and attending school virtually became part of everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic, it taught us how vital home broadband internet is.

(StatePoint) Fatal car crashes are on the rise, causing over 35,000 deaths each year nationwide. In many cases, driver behavior and/or driver error contributes to the crash. Can self-driving cars save lives? Experts say the answer is yes, but point out that automated vehicle technology will need to evolve from where it is today.

(StatePoint) If you dream of homeownership, having your mortgage application denied can be devastating. If this does happen to you, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Thirteen percent of all purchase mortgage applications -- a total of nearly 650,000 -- were denied in 2020, according to federal government data.

(StatePoint) Both in the United States and globally, childhood and adult vaccination rates have seen what community health experts are calling a “concerning decline” since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now is the time to ensure that you and your children are up to date on all recommended vaccines to best protect you and your family from preventable diseases.

(StatePoint) There’s no better time than right now to prep yourself and your family for the unexpected. Don’t wait until torrential rain and high winds beat on your windows or wildfire flames glow on the horizon. In those moments, your only thought will be getting your family to safety.

(StatePoint) According to a new survey, American nurses are overwhelmed by job demands, a long-brewing situation only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the majority of nurses continue to be dedicated to the care of patients, many are considering leaving the profession at a time when staff shortages are part of the problem. But there’s hope, according to industry experts, who say that understanding these challenges can lead to meaningful and necessary reforms.

(StatePoint) With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply chain problems stemming from the global pandemic, and the world struggling under escalating inflation and a rapidly changing climate, the global hunger crisis has reached new levels.

(StatePoint) Health experts say that establishing and maintaining family traditions can boost overall well-being and vitality, especially as we age.

(StatePoint) Similar to how the ways we listen to music and watch movies have changed, cellular networks are evolving too. In fact, all major wireless providers plan to shutter their 3G cellular networks this year.

(StatePoint) “Think globally, act locally” is a motto that everyone should take to heart. It emphasizes the importance of real actions you can take at home and in your community, while stressing the fact that every creature on planet Earth is connected. With that in mind, here are three great ways to save the planet in your very own backyard this fall: